Knocked flat!

[RyanCafferky]

On Monday, I was on a clearing job yesterday where we were removing dozens of small (60' 10-24" DBH) cottonwood and cherry trees. We had a lot of stuff go wrong that day. The mini skid steer threw a track, the crew didn't bring enough gas and bar oil, broken pull cord, chip truck got stuck in the mud. Then to top it all off I knocked myself out.

I was dropping a tall skinny cottonwood that needed a line in it to pull it against its lean. As I was setting a line I broke a small branch but didn't give it a second thought. Then as I was dropping the tree I didn't do a bore cut and get out of the danger zone and instead just did a standard cut as the crew pulled the tree over. Then out of nowhere WHAM! and lights out. I was out only for a few seconds but managed to bite the tip of my tongue hard enough to make a little mess of it. It was such a small branch that I never would have thought something that size could knock a person out. I guess it just had enough momentum to do the trick.

I was lucky in more than a few ways on that one. As I told my boss later, it was one of those instances where I totally knew better. I knew to be careful of hangers, I knew to use a bore cut so I could get clear of the base. But what I think caused me to ignore those safety steps was the fact that it was late in the day, I was tired, and I was rushing to try and get the job done in a day even though there was a decent amount of money on it.

I'm just glad my little slow down and follow the rules reminder had a happy ending.

 

[theXman]

did you have a hardhat on? if so, it must not have been too small of a limb.

you cut with your tongue tip through your teeth? just joking.

I don't understand how a bore cut allows a person to get away faster. seems just the opposite to me. I'm not picking on you here, just discussing.

thanks for the story.

 

[Phil]

when you do a traditional notch and back cut the tree starts to fall as you are still cutting, shifting hangers and broken branches with you right underneath. With the bore cut, you are already to walk your escape route the second u release the strap putting at least some distance between yourself and the tree before it moves enough to dislodge hanging debris.

I'm glad you are ok.

 

[theXman]

yes, I see your point, that makes sense on big trees, well, if you feel the need to keep cutting in order to keep it from splitting or pulling fibers. if your just clearing and don't care about the log or the landing doesn't have to be perfect, i don't see why the feller couldn't just walk away when it's start to go.

yeah, i do see the point, if bore cut, the feller has in his mind he is going to walk away as soon as he cuts that release.

ok.